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Cell Referencing

Weissr operates within the scope of model periods, which are critical to consider when building investment models. This guide explains how to effectively reference cells within and across periods.

Referencing the current year in a different row

This is the simplest way to reference a cell:

Reference the same column within the scope of the same period.
No special rules or symbols are required for this type of reference.

Referencing the previous year

To reference the previous year, simply select the column for the preceding year.

This works regardless of whether the column belongs to the same period or a different period.
The row can also be in the same or a different without any issue.

How to reference a period 's start or end year

Referencing basics

Use $ before the cell address when referencing a period start or end year in a different row.

Referencing cells between a period’s start or end year

When building investment models in Weissr, it’s common to reference data that falls between the start and end of a period. To ensure these references remain accurate as the calendar evolves, Weissr provides period-aware functions: SY() for period start and EY() for period end.

Why use period-aware referencing?

Standard references like C10 point to a fixed location. This can create problems when:

A period is extended or shortened
Start or end years are moved
Multiple periods overlap

Weissr-specific functions prevent broken or drifting references by dynamically adjusting based on the structure of the defined period.

SY() and EY() function overview

Function	Anchor point	Period defined by	Cell reference moves if referenced period changes?
`SY(cell)`	Start of the period	The period where the formula is being written	✅ Yes, if start year in the same period changes.
`EY(cell)`	End of the period	The period where the formula is being written	✅ Yes, if end year in the same period changes.
`SY(cell, n)`	Start of Period n	Explicitly defined by second argument n (1–4)	✅ Yes, if Period n start year changes
`EY(cell, n)`	End of Period n	Explicitly defined by second argument n (1–4)	✅ Yes, if Period n end year changes

SY and EY calculate the column offset from the anchor (start or end) to the referenced cell. This offset stays consistent as the anchor shifts.

Example: Referencing cells with changing period ranges

Periods before the change

Period 2 (P2): A – E
Period 3 (P3): F – J

Period you make

P2 is extended by one year on the right (now A – F)
P3’s start slides one column right to G, but its end stays at J

Formula in your sheet	What it points to before the change	What it points to after the change	Why it does that
`SY(C1)` (typed while you are in P2)	C1	C1	SY without the second number always follows the start year of the period you are working in (still A), so nothing moves.
`EY(C1)` (typed while you are in P2)	C1	D1	EY follows the end year of the period you are working in. That last year moved from E to F, so the reference slides one column right.
`SY(C1; 3)`	C1	D1	Adding “; 3” tells SY to track the start year of P3. P3 used to start at F, three columns to the right of C. After P3 starts at G, you still stay three columns to the left of the start, which is now column D.
`EY(C1; 3)`	C1	C1	Adding “; 3” tells EY to track the end year of P3. P3’s end is still J, so the reference stays on C1.

Summary

Use SY() or EY() for referencing cells between the period’s start and end.
These functions ensure that references stay valid even if periods change.
Use the optional second argument to anchor to a specific period outside of the one you “are in” (1–4).
Exact start/end references will be shown as $ in the grid when applicable.